Ballycastle reach Taylor Cup Final

Taylor Cup semi-final

Ballycastle High School 3-2 City of Armagh High School

BALLYCASTLE High school entertained City of Armagh High School last Monday afternoon at the Quay Road astro-pitch in their eagerly anticipated semi-final clash.

Being the holders of the cup, Armagh arrived in Ballycastle with no intention of giving it up, but on the day, the much fancied Armagh side left Ballycastle with their hopes of retaining the title crushed.

A fired up Ballycastle team began this game at a ferocious tempo, they settled much quicker than their opponents and certainly looked like they were going to make the most of the occasion. In the fifth minute, Richard McConaghie slipped the ball through to an unmarked Trevor Linton but he flicked the ball inches wide when well placed.

Trevor made amends for this miss minutes later when Ballycastle won the first penalty corner of the day. Aaron Douglas pushed the ball to Trevor Linton on the edge of the circle who hit the ball sweetly through the on rushing defenders, past the goal keeper and into the bottom corner of the goal.

Armagh showed glimpses of why they were the current champions but found Sean Midgley, Scott Horner, Daniel Jamieson and Craig Henry hard to breakdown.

They snuffed out every attack until the twenty-third minute when disaster struck. After neat work on the edge of the circle, the Armagh forward struck a great shot which Niall Mc Cracken got the slightest of touches on to turn the ball away from goal. The ball deflected up and hit the unfortunate Sean Midgley who couldn’t get out of the way and a penalty flick was awarded. Armagh’s confident and skilful centre midfielder calmly placed it into the corner to equalise.

Half time: Ballycastle High School 1-1 City of Armagh High School

After the half time break Ballycastle came out fired up knowing that the game was theirs for taking. After an almighty midfield battle all game, Steven Morrison, Ryan Esler and Mark Mc Allister were beginning to over run their opponents, setting up more and more attacks in the process.

The large contingents of Ballycastle supporters urged their team on from the sides and before long were celebrating a second goal. Captain Trevor Linton led by example, running the Armagh defence ragged and when he ran at them they continued to back off he had only one thought in his mind, shoot. From an acute angle, the ball slammed in at the goal keeper’s near post to put Ballycastle in the lead.

Just as the game settled back into play Armagh worked hard to force a quick reply and got their rewards from a penalty corner. A superbly worked set-piece resulted in the right winger, and current under-sixteen international giving the home defence no chance by slamming the ball into the bottom corner to make it two apiece.

Being pegged back twice would have deflated many teams but in this case it only served to make Ballycastle more determined to win the game.

They spent long periods of time in the Armagh half hitting tackle after tackle and creating numerous chances, finally Armagh caved in. The hero was to be Richard Mc Conaghie who beat his marker just outside the circle before hitting a crisp shot that even the Armagh goal keeper could only admire. The supporters cheered with delight as the players sensed it was going to be their day. They pulled together for the last seven minutes to knock the holders out of the competition and ultimately book their place in the Taylor Cup final.

The final will be played at Lisnagarvey after the Easter holidays, good luck to the Ballycastle players as they bid to win their first trophy for thirteen years.